CATEGORY : Unknown heroes

Shahin Najafi, a musician who uses rap and rock songs to send messages and criticisms about Iranian society, is possibly the most “wanted” Iranian musician with his songs deemed by the authorities to be blasphemous. In 2005, he fled to Germany as a refugee, however that did not change the fact that Shahin is at odds with the Iranian authorities. He puts his life on the line each time he steps on stage, continuing to be a defiant and dedicated artist who refuses to be silenced. With tens of thousands of refugees escaping war and arriving in Europe, he tries to find ways to help, but then Paris falls under terror attack.

Today, the Syrian city of Aleppo is a city where bombs rain down, day and night. The “White Helmets”, Aleppo’s first responders, rush toward the bombed areas to search through collapsed buildings for the living and dead, while others run away. Although determined to remain in Aleppo to save the lives of innocent people, they too have families who they must protect. Constantly faced with the dilemma of whether to stay and dedicate themselves to those they vowed to help, or to leave the city in ruins and protect their families, Last Men in Aleppo bears testament to mankind’s capacity for unspeakable atrocity, and an ode to courage and compassion.

Khaled, a young Syrian refugee, sought asylum in Finland but was turned down by the courts and is ordered to return to the ruins of Aleppo. Determined to stay in the country, he escapes from detention and disappears into the streets of Helsinki where he faces violence and discrimination. One day, he meets an owner of a restaurant, Wikström, and is given a job at his restaurant. For a moment, life shows us its sunnier side, but all too soon fate intervenes… A second production brought to you by Director Kaurismäki of a uniquely humorous and heart-warming tale in the refugee crisis.

The Hartmann family lived in an affluent neighborhood of Munich. One day, mother Angelika, a retired teacher, decides to welcome a Nigerian asylum seeker Diallo into their home despite her husband’s opposition. Diallo gets along well with the family, however, they are all put to the test when faced with the realities presented by of xenophobia and suspicion of terror. “Welcome to Germany” sheds light on the rapport of refugees and the host communities are trying to build, and the human stories of refugees residing in Germany – a nation, that has been welcoming refugees from around the world.

After the U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq in 2011, a male nurse named Nori Sharif was asked to report on the state of his country. Over the course of five years, he worked in the local hospital in Jalawla where he filmed victims of war in the “Triangle of Death”, one of the most dangerous and inaccessible regions of Iraq. Sharif continues to film despite increasing dangers, until 2014 when ISIS advances on Jalawla, finally taking over the city. The hospital is no longer a safe place. He too must flee at a moment’s notice, to bring himself and his family to safety.

After making the perilous journey to Hungary as a refugee from his home country in Africa, Wilson works as a security guard in a shopping center, all the while studying for the exam for acquiring Hungarian citizenship. Though he finds love with his tutor Mari who devotedly supported him through this time, one day, he is found sheltering another woman in his house. Despaired and heartbroken, he receives the result of his exam and is faced with a tough decision in the quest of becoming a model citizen.

Director

Roland Vranik

Country

Hungary

Year of production

2016

mins

109 min

ATTENTION

*Be advised that some films may contain scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.

*The views and opinions expressed in these films do not necessarily represent those of the sponsors, partners, supporters or other involved in organizing the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival.

*Images, texts, copyrights and trademarks for all films mentioned herein are held by their respective owners and are solely for promotional, non-commercial and educational purposes.